Mary's Blog

Back in the old days three to four years ago when everything in the real estate world was hunky dory no one thought or seemed to care about what the market may look like in a few years.  Life was good and if you bought real estate you could expect its value to increase.  Then quite suddenly condi...

As we enter a new year and a new decade there are signs that the storm clouds hanging over the real estate market in Northern Arizona the past few years are beginning to break.  At a recent business meeting which I attended there seemed to be a consensus that the real estate market nationally wil...

As we move from summer into fall, the countdown has begun for first time purchasers to earn a homebuyers tax credit of up to $8000 on their 2009 federal income tax.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides the credit to home buyer's who have not owned a home in the past three ...

If you have followed the local real estate market the past year you know that townhomes and condominiums have become popular with home buyers.  Town homes are more affordable than single family homes, making them more attractive to first time home buyers.  Town homes and condos are gaining appeal...

Back in the old days determining the market value of real estate was a fairly straight forward process.  An agent would obtain sales records from comparable properties for the past few months and with input from the property owner a value would be determined.  In today's market the concept remain...

  As we continue in this cycle of short sales, foreclosures, and other distressed property transactions "As Is" sales are becoming more and more common.  Banks and other lending institution who acquire a home through foreclosure usually have no idea what the property looks like and whether there ...

While I am not an accountant and don't give tax advice I do know a great opportunity when I see one.  Therefore I felt it imperative that this month's article address the tax incentives that are provided in the economic stimulus bill recently passed by congress with regard to real estate.  First ...

As buyers become more fickle and remain in the driver's seat when it comes to a real estate transaction, sellers must be aware of potential pitfalls when they receive and accept an offer to purchase.  An issue that can affect a transaction is any previous insurance losses a seller may have incurr...

Lately we have been inundated with reports of real estate foreclosure auctions, short sales, distressed property and seized property sales.  If you are contemplating purchasing real estate through one of these means you should consider the many pitfalls that you may encounter.  Of utmost importan...

One question that I am frequently asked by clients is: which services are they expected to pay upon the closing of a real estate transaction?  While the answers vary and most expenses are negotiable the following table indicates who customarily pays for the service.  The table includes three cate...